Beliefs

Salvation: Soteriology

We believe that all men are sinners (Romans 3:23). The consequence of sin is eternal death and separation from God (Romans 6:23). Even though we were sinners (Romans 5:8), Holy God loved us so much he sent His sinless Son to pay our penalty and die in our place (John 3:16). Jesus died on the cross, was buried, and rose again the third day from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). He defeated death and hell to provide salvation to all who believe (Revelation 1:17-18).

We receive this salvation by confessing our sin to God, admitting that we are powerless to save ourselves (Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5), proclaiming our belief in the finished work of Jesus through His death burial and resurrection (Romans 10:9-10, 13), and accepting Jesus into our heart as our Savior (Acts 16:31).

Salvation is secure and eternal because it is based on the finished work of Jesus (Hebrews 12:2). The Holy Spirit seals us with His mark until we reach eternity and the day of redemption (Ephesians 4:30). God the Son and God the Father, both hold those who have trusted in Christ in their hands (John 10:28-29), and will never lose any (John 6:39).

God wants all mankind to receive the free gift of salvation (2 Peter 3:9). Jesus offers that, “Whosoever believes in Him will never die.” (John 11:25-26)

Creation

God Created the earth. (Genesis 1:1; John 1:1-3; Colossians 1:16-17) He spoke and, by His Divine power, it was created. (Genesis 1:3, 6, 9, 14, 20, 24, 26; Psalm 33:6; Hebrews 11:3) The act of creation was completed in a literal six days, and God rested the seventh day. (Genesis 2:2; Exodus 20:11; 31:17) Each day was a 24-hour period (Throughout Scripture the Hebrew word yom, when attached to a number, refers to a 24-hour day.). Each day was marked by the continuing pattern of “the evening and the morning”; darkness and light. (Genesis 1:5, 8, 13, 19, 23, 31) The seven-day week we currently follow is based on this biblical truth. (Genesis 8:22)

One of the greatest proofs for creation, outside of the Bible, is the fact that God says all things will produce after their own kind. (Genesis 1:11-12; 21; 24-25) This is exactly what we still see today; everything has the seed within itself and produces only more of itself. All changes, noticed today (such as longer beak, or heavier coat, etc.), are within the gene pool of the “kind”, and no plant, animal, bird, or sea creature will ever become a different and new creature, or have new information added to its DNA that did not come from its parent.

The detail of the created requires an intelligence behind the creation. (Psalms 104:24; 136:5-9; Proverbs 3:19-20; Jeremiah 10:12) Each individual part of creation is dependent on certain properties that were miraculously created as a part of existence. For example, the giraffe requires special blood pressure regulation for its long neck. It could not reach down without passing out unless it has these regulators. This design must be present from the beginning or the original giraffe would never survive. It would be impossible for the required design to evolve.

God holds all creation in His hands today. He is in charge of all the creatures, the weather, and even the rainbow. Without God, nothing would be able to exist. We are all dependent on Him. (Job 38-39; Psalm 135:6-7; Matthew 10:29-30; Colossians 1:17; Hebrews 1:3)